Tri4Christ Blog - by Stan Smith

Attend the 2011 Tucson Camp and Retreat

2010-09-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Come join us for the 6th edition of the ICTN camp and retreat in Tucson. The camp runs from Friday morning, January 28, 2011 through noon on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

More camp details are available online at http://www.ictrinet.com/2011Camp/.

You can register now. Online sign-up is available at Active.com: http://bit.ly/9fd14r.

Finish strong!
Stan

Camp Countdown!

2009-11-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Make your own Countdown Clocks

Where Men Win Glory - John Krakauer's New Book on Pat Tillman

2009-09-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am a big John Krakauer fan; I am not sure if I have read everything he's written but it is probably pretty close to that. Into Thin Air, Eiger Dreams, Under the Banner of Heaven ... all great non-fiction books, each a page-turner.

Krakauer has a new book out called Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, and I've been reading it. Like many, I was fascinated with Pat Tillman and his life, not the least reason being I raced against him in the 2001 Eagleman Ironman 70.3 triathlon (the top military finisher there each year now wins the Pat Tillman Spirit Award). I also have a good friend from Arizona who trained with him. Each time I've been to Tempe for Ironman Arizona -- where you swim in the shadow of Sun Devil Stadium -- I've thought of Tillman sitting at the top of one of those light towers at the stadium, 200 feet above the ground, just chillin' and taking in the view ...

I had a chance to read the Andrew Exum review in the Washington Post recently and have to say I agree with his assessment of Krakauer's new book. Bascially, Exum (a former Army officer who saw duty on the ground in Afghanistan in 2002 and 2004 and as a civilian observer earlier this year) states that Krakauer's book might be a little better if Krakauer took a little more balanced view of the motivations of some of the administration or military officials involved. Bascially, it's OK to have an axe to grind; it's a free country and that is, no doubt, one of the many freedoms Tillman and others were and still are willing to sacrifice to protect. But you know the blade has been sharpened a bit when you read a passage like this (re the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court decision):

"It wasn't simply Gore supporters who were outraged by the Court's decision. In a dissenting opinion that was uncharacteristically harsh in tone, Justice John Paul Stevens (a Republican appointed by President Gerald Ford lamented that the outcome of Bush v. Gore 'can only lend credence to the most cynical appraisal of the work of judges throughout the land ...'"

C'mon. I would have thought a journo like Krakauer would be all over the facts, owning them, making them his own, but not slanting them to make a point (one in this case not very central to his book). I guess the point is that if some things had gone a little differently (e.g., the Supreme Court affirming a Gore win in Florida vs. a Bush victory there), then maybe Tillman wouldn't have had to die in Afghanistan. Maybe, maybe not. Still, there is no serious journalist alive who could have done a modicum of research and concluded that Justice Stevens is anything other than the heart and soul of the liberal wing of the Court. And, mind you, I'm not saying that is a problem. I went to law school with Justice Stevens' daughter and son-in-law, and they are all very good people, no doubt in part because the Justice has set a fine example in his role as an impassioned and dedicated public servant. It's OK to choose a side and take up the battle cry.

My point is not that Krakauer is wrong because he has chosen a side I'm not on. Rather, I think -- especially given the standard that he has set in his other work, Under the Banner of Heaven being the best example -- that Krakauer's failure to get some of the small stuff right leaves me questioning some of the other conclusions he reaches. I read a book recently where a famous Civil War infantry charge was mistaken for a cavalry charge ... hard to believe it could make it into print, but there it was. In this case, Stevens-as-a-liberal isn't even a controversial point (no one thinks he is a conservative, regardless of that Ford appointment). Trying to make the average reader accept that a Republican or conservative voice on the Court voted against the Bush v. Gore result ... that's just not good writing/editing (best case) or it is disingenuous (worst case).

The stuff about Tillman's youth and his high school, Arizona State, and NFL football career is good and more in-depth than you would get from a magazine article. He even has access to some journals that Tillman kept, which are revealing. You can tell, though, that Krakauer is no sports desk refugee: another complaint I had was the annoying habit of recapping Cardinals losses by putting the Cardinals' losing score first ... "Tillman made nineteen tackles in a 14-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles" Huh? I blame the editor equally for that one, though.

Whatever you think of Tillman (or Krakauer, for that matter), this book is worth reading simply to keep the conversation going and the memories alive. You can't say there have ever been too many guys like Pat Tillman.

I would say the coda to his life is that "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). Some might disagree, maybe even Tillman himself. But that's how I'll remember his story.

(BTW - one tangible legacy is the Pat Tillman Foundation; check out the website and consider supporting it. Their leadership programs are unique and reflect the dedication and passion that were such a key part of Pat Tillman's personality and character.)

Finish strong (and sign up for the Tucson training camp/retreat in January!!),
Stan

We Climbed Old Rag!

2009-09-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

(August 2009) - 3,291 feet above sea level, 6 hrs and 15 minutes of hiking and climbing over 7 miles. S did great; she was a champ!

Come to Camp ... And Climb Mt. Lemmon With Us (A True Mountaintop Experience)

2009-08-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Registration for the 5th Annual ICTN Tucson Camp and Retreat is now available online at Active.com. Click here for more details and to sign up.

Finish strong,

Stan

Tuscon Tri Camp/Retreat - Sign Up Today on Active.com!!!

2008-12-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1614380&assetId=eea529fa-c3e2-453f-a2b8-3d76b848d3ea

Details below (bike ship option to be posted shortly).

UPDATE: Attention Campers! Tucson’s Brian Grasky of Grasky Endurance Coaching, and Kirk Nelson, professional triathlete and coach, will be putting on a special 2 day, 3 night pre-ICTN camp for ICTN registrants with reduced special pricing. Brian has been coaching for over 5 years and has put on numerous successful camps throughout Arizona. Go to www.graskyendurance.com for more information. A portion of the pre-ICTN camp proceeds will be donated by Grasky Endurance Coaching to ICTN.

The fourth edition of a unique tri camp/retreat is coming up January 23-25, 2009, in Tucson, AZ, hosted by FCA Endurance (www.fcaendurance.org) and ICTN (www.ictrinet.com). ICTN is a network of triathlon and endurance-related ministries which include, among others, FCA Endurance, Athletes in Action Triathlon (http://www.aiatriathlon.com/), and All Nations Church, Peoria, AZ (http://www.anconline.org/index1.html).

If you are a believing endurance athlete (or even just an endurance athlete), this is a must-attend event. Each year the workouts, coaching, speakers and fellowship have been incredible, and those lucky enough to be regular attendees all agree that coming back to Arizona in January for this event is like being at a family reunion (OK, a family reunion with some great weather, awesome training opportunities – think Mt. Lemmon – and some cool friends with whom you can swap tips and war stories).

In the past, we have had pros like Heather Gollnick, Chris Lieto, and Jamie Whitmore participate, and we expect another solid lineup for this year as well. For example, Brian Grasky, an elite athlete and coach from Tucson (you may have seen him featured in the October 2008 issue of Inside Triathlon magazine) will attend and coach, as will pro triathletes Kirk Nelson and Brad Seng of the Sports Beans/NTTC team.

Confirmed coaches/pros for 2009 include:

Brian Grasky, Grasky Endurance (http://www.graskyendurance.com/)

Kirk Nelson, pro triathlete with Team Sports Beans/NTTC (www.trikirk.com)

Brad Seng, pro triathlete with Team Sports Beans/NTTC (http://www.bradseng.com/)

Kevin Paladino, Coach Kevin Multisport (http://coachkevinmultisport.com/)

Confirmed teaching/racing pastors for 2009 include:

Lincoln Murdoch, Senior Pastor – All Nations Church, Peoria, AZ, USAT All-American (http://www.anconline.org/team/lincmurdoch.html; http://runner4g.blogspot.com/)

Dan Perkins, Senior Pastor – Twin Oaks Church, San Jose, CA, 2005 Kona Qualifier (IMAZ) (http://twinoakschurch.com/167470.ihtml; http://danperkins.blogs.com/)

Scott Bennefield, Body Life Pastor – Hoffmantown Church, Albuquerque, NM, multiple-time IM finisher

Bob Brubaker, Senior Pastor – Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, FL, multiple-time IM finisher (http://www.bobbrubaker.com/bob.htm)

You can sign up at Active.com: http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1614380&assetId=eea529fa-c3e2-453f-a2b8-3d76b848d3ea

The host site for this year's camp is the Sheraton Tucson, and you can make reservations direct at this link. There is a special room rate available through December 24th: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=0808133739&key=B0EDC

We'd love to see you there. I encourage you to consider attending, so that your 2009 will get off of to a great start spiritually and athletically, and you can also get plugged in with a great group of people.

Not Just a Training Camp ... A Community

2008-10-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you a story from earlier this year. In July, I was in Lake Placid, New York for the 10th anniversary edition of the Ford Ironman Lake Placid. I am a back-of-the-pack guy at the longer distances, so I have gotten into the habit of carrying my BlackBerry device with me during these races (before the race, the mobile goes into my swim-to-bike bag; after the swim, I get my bag in T1 and from there it goes from the bag to a pocket on my shorts or jersey). This way, I can text my wife and let her know I am OK during the race, check the sports scores, etc. It's a long day, and since I'm just trying to finish, a few extra minutes in each transition to stay connected is worth it (to me anyway). This worked well enough in Arizona this April (although it is also bone dry there, which makes a difference as you will see in a minute).

Well, you may have heard that they had near-legendary conditions at IMLP this year; three inches of rain on the day. It started at 7:30 am, during the swim. It rained hard, and it rained all day ... it didn't really stop until about almost 7:00 pm. For some slower folks (like me), it didn't stop there, either. After a short break, the rain came on again for another hour and a half, finally ending about 9:00 pm.

Coming into T1, our swim-to-bike bags were outside on the transition racks. Even though the bags (which have a drawstring that does not seal up completely at the top) had collected some water at that point, my BlackBerry was still working. From T1, I was able to email my wife and a couple of friends with the news that I had swum a slower-than-expected (but-its-OK-'cause-I'm-just-here-to-finish) 1:11.

T2 -- different story. Needless to say, my BlackBerry, even though it was double-wrapped inside plastic sandwich bags, did not survive the rain. When I got back to T2, it was basically DOA.

Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal. However, my oldest daughter had traveled with me to this race (she was there with me in Tempe earlier this year as well), and we both very much wanted things to work out so that we could cross the finish line together. The plan was for me to write a short email to my wife (who had stayed home with our other 3 girls) and she would relay to my brother-in-law, who was with me in Lake Placid. He and our host would bring Sarah down to the finish area at the time I approximated.

No phone. No chance of getting the word to Sarah ... maybe I could find a pay phone somewhere on the run course and call collect ... have to be in town, though ... do they even have pay phones anymore? This was my beginning thought process to formulate a "Plan B" for contacting Sarah.

Until I ran out of the changing tent and onto the run course. I went about 5 strides and heard "Hey, Stan!" Looked over, and there was a good friend, Scott Perschke, up from Pennsylvania with his dad to watch the race and then get in line for on-site registration the next morning for the 2009 race. I came over to the barrier, exchanged a high five and popped the question: "Brother, can you spare a cell phone?" Scott generously let me call my wife back in Virginia. I dialed, told her I'd finish between 11:15 pm and 11:45 pm, and she called her brother from there. Gave the phone back to Scott, said thanks and good-bye to him and his dad, and off to try and finish the run before midnight.

Several hours later ... I crossed the line with Sarah, who was waiting for me.

I mention all this because I know Scott from having attended each of the first three editions of the International Christian Triathlon Network annual camp and retreat in Arizona. If you are a believing endurance athlete (or even just an endurance athlete), this is a must-attend event. Each year, the workouts, coaching, speakers and fellowship have been incredible, and those lucky enough to be regular attendees all agree that coming back to Arizona in January for this event is like being at a family reunion. That connection certainly made my day a memorable one in Lake Placid. (Thanks, Scott.)

I encourage you to consider attending, so that your 2009 will get off to a great start spiritually and athletically, and you can also get plugged into the same great group of people.

Finish strong (and see you in Tucson in January!),

Stan

Like Riding in a Dust Tornado Inside of an Oven ...

2008-04-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

... that is how I would describe participating in the April 2008 edition of Ironman Arizona. I finished, and am fired up that I did, but it was a tough, tough day. One cool thing that happened was that I got to run the last couple of miles into the finish with Pastor Scott Bennefield of Albuquerque, New Mexico (he is Body Life Pastor at Hoffmantown Church there). We had also gone for a long run together at January's ICTN camp/retreat in Scottsdale, so this was sort of a bookend to that earlier run. Speaking of tough ... Pastor Scott passed a kidney stone on the third bike lap and still managed to get across the line. Unreal!

There were some pretty scary stats flying around in the wake of the extreme weather, like this info from the official Ironman website, posted just prior to the midnight deadline:

"A tough day in Arizona
RACETIME: 16:27
If you are wondering how tough things were out on the course today, all you have to do is check out the number of DNF's at today's race.Of the 2035 athletes who started the swim, 2033 finished in time to start the bike.Of those, 1,874 managed to get through the hot and windy bike course.1,830 of those started the run.With just under 40 minutes to go, 1,574 of those athletes have finished.The high attrition rate is no-doubt due to the extreme heat we experienced here today, coupled with the high winds."

So, I felt pretty lucky to get across the line with my oldest daughter, Sarah.

The best part of the weekend was seeing old friends in Arizona. This is fourth year in a row I've been able to go to Arizona for the race, either to work in the expo for Tri4Christ/FCA Endurance and help with IronPrayer, or to do the race (which I finished in 2006 as well).

I don't have any illusions of grandeur about my IM skill set, but I feel fortunate that I was able to use lessons of perseverance and faith from our annual ICTN camps, the IronPrayer events, and also the inspiration of friends who have been brave enough to share their stories, as tools to help me finish. And, I am especially proud to be able to count men and women like Scott, Linc/Jen, Bob/Jan, Dan, Brian/Jill, JR/Wendy, Chris A., Tom, Kirk, Shelper, Don, Phil/Sandy, Troy/Robin, Dan C., Mike B., Heather/Todd, Jamie/Courtney, Jason, Bill/Gina, Marty/Alona, Mike, AJ, DR, Matt and so many others as friends in Christ, life, and tris. I know I am blessed to be able to compete. And I know that blessing is even more profound when I get to experience it in the company of so many special people.

When Chrissy and I got married 11 years ago, we prayed for some special friends to come into our lives ... When we consider the gifts God has given us since then in the friendships at our "home" and our "tri" church families, it is very humbling and very special to us.

I love tris, but I love the people I've met through triathlon even more. Thanks for the support and the friendship - it is much more than another reason not to quit a race. It is the reason we are alive - to practice the friendship and adventure we will share together with Christ in the place and time to come.

Proud to be your friend. Finish strong,

Stan

To the Westward ...

2008-01-31T06:48:00.000-08:00

Posted from British Airways lounge @ Heathrow Airport, London, England - waiting for a connection to Frankfurt.

Last week was the 3rd Annual ICTN (International Christian Triathlon Network) camp and retreat in Phoenix. Once again, this gathering of pro and age group athletes, coaches, and pastors who share a love for endurance athletics and Christ was an amazing event. God continues to do some amazing things in our community, and it is just cool to be along for the ride.

On my way out to Phoenix, it happened that I was listening to a CD of the soundtrack from Ken Burns' PBS documentary on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The CD has some excerpts from the journals of the expedition. The journals were written by seven members of the Corps of Discovery, including Lewis and Clark.

A couple of the journal entries and letters really caught my interest, as they were an interesting accompaniament to the anticipation I felt heading out (west!) to Arizona for the camp, and the poignancy that always seems to frame the wrap-up of the camp and the travel home.

From a letter by Sgt. John Ordway, on April 8, 1804:

"Honored Parents,

I am now on an expedition to the Westward with Captain Lewis and Captain Clark through the interior parts of North America. We are to ascend the Missouri River with a boat as far as it is navigable and then go by land to the western ocean if nothing prevents. I will write next winter, if I have the chance."

I love this letter. "To the Westward" evokes everything that is still exciting to an East Coaster about heading toward the setting sun, even if the mode of travel is a lot more pedestrian than the modes employed by the Corps of Discovery. "Honored Parents" is a great way to open a letter; reminding that author of the Biblical charge to honor his father and mother, but also conveying and bestowing that honor on his parents when they were to open up the letter and read it. How about "if nothing prevents" or the fact that Ordway planned to "write next winter, if I have the chance." There were real and substantial hazards, many of them as yet unknown when the expedition left St. Louis, waiting for these men. And yet, they went ahead, with full confidence in their leaders and, one assumes, extra helpings of both anticipation and courage.

The bookend to Ordway's entry on Day 1 of the expedition, is the entry he penned upon the group's return to St. Louis on September 23, 1806, two and one-half years later:

"about 12 oClock we arived in Site of St Louis fired three Rounds as we approached the the Town and landed oppocit the center of the Town, the people gathred on the Shore and Hizzared three cheers. we unloaded the canoes and carried the baggage all up to a store house in Town drew out the canoes then the party all considerable much rejoiced that we have the Expedition Completed and now we look for boarding in Town and wait for our Settlement and then we entend to return to our native homes to See our parents once more as we have been so long from them."

To me, this is also a stirring and rich entry. Finishing a long race, like a marathon or a triathlon, is definitely a cause for celebration or relief (or both, sometimes). One can only imagine the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction -- as well as celebration and relief -- that was felt by each member of the Corps of Expedition upon its return to St. Louis. Pick the appropriate multiplier, and that feeling on a higher level is probably a good image of what it will be like when we make it home to be with our Lord. But you also can't help but wonder if there wasn't a sort of emotional letdown a few hours or days after their return. For over 2 years, they were out there on the forefront of what was known about the great western expanse of the continent, much of it obtained in the Louisiana Purchase ... and then, they were home, cleaning out their boats, repairing and stowing their gear, and saying their goodbyes as they moved on to other assignments or jobs. They had to have pangs of regret that there was not another adventure to share together ... we know that Merriwether Lewis died in violent circumstances just a few years after the expedition's end, in 1809. President Jefferson suspected his death was a suicide, although the Lewis family always maintained otherwise. If Jefferson was right, could the melancholy or emotional letdown of coming back to civilization after a lengthy period in the wilds have been a contributing factor ...?

When I got back from Phoenix, I experienced an emotional letdown, although obviously to a different degree and without a severe depression of the kind that Lewis is said to have suffered. But, it can be hard to be "on the mountaintop" and in the presence of Christ and sharing in that with some much-loved fellow travelers, and then come back down to the relatively mundane routine of tasks and meetings ... Thankfully, the joy of getting home to see my wife and girls was a great countermeasure to that letdown, and I suspect that is another area of similarity to what Ordway experienced, which he hinted at in his comments about intending to see his parents, from whom he had been separated for so long.

One final note. There are any number of Biblical texts we could take to describe what is involved in taking that mountaintop feeling away from the camp and back to share with our friends and family members. However, since I was so immersed in the Lewis and Clark story, I found, instead, that this quote from Jefferson compelling and useful to complete the metaphor:

"The work we are now doing is, I trust, done for posterity, in such a way that they need not repeat it. We shall delineate with correctness the great patterns of this country. Those who come after us will fill up the canvas we begin."

Amen. God has undertaken a mighty work with this camp and the network of like-minded athletes that is growing within endurance sports. To a certain degree, we are just stewards, trying to stay out of the way as He leads us and the camp and the network in a particular and transformative direction ... and we act as stewards in the hope that what is growing at this time and in this group can be successfully handed on to those who will come after us.

Finish strong,
Stan

In Memory of Ryan Shay

2007-11-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Brian Sell, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team during Saturday's marathon trials in New York City, reacts to confirmation of the death of fellow marathoner, Ryan Shay, during the same event.

Like many of you, I was shocked to hear the news Saturday that Ryan Shay -- a 5-time USATF national champion, including 2003 in the marathon and 2003-2004 in the half-marathon -- had died during the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City's Central Park.

I read an article written by Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden right after the Saturday afternoon press conference with the winners of the race (Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and Brian Sell). In it, Layden observed that "It is not possible to overstate the surreality of the post-race moment. Olympic-sport athletes in the United States are given a tiny quadrennial window in which to make good on endless hours of training and boundless dreams. On this day, Hall, Ritzenhein and Sell had slipped through the opening. For Hall and Sell it is their first Olympic team; for Ritzenhein his first in the marathon. They had seized a very potent reality, only to be confronted by a much larger one."

I cannot imagine.

One of the unfortunate side notes of this tragedy is that the winner, Ryan Hall, is married to Sara Hall. Ryan Hall and Sara Hall both ran at Stanford with Alicia Shay, who was married to Ryan Shay in July and who is now his widow. Sara was a bridesmaid at the Shay wedding.

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon last week, and was reminded again of how incredibly emotional an event the marathon is. I cannot comprehend what Saturday's aftermath must have been like.

Be praying for Alicia Shay and the Shay family. And remember to enjoy the heck out of your training and racing. Why? Because you can, and that is a crucial thing in our lives for as long as we have them to live. Viewed through the prism of sudden death, we can be reminded what a gift even a "bad" run can be. Keep being thankful for the breaths we each draw and the hearts that God allows to continue beating in our chests. It all passes too fast.

Finish strong,
Stan

Psalm 103 (NIV)
... 15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Ironman Arizona Outreach

2007-05-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Once more (third year in a row) I was fortunate to be a part of the ministry and outreach in Tempe for the 2007 Ironman Arizona, April 12th through April 15th. Hats off to my homestay buddy, Jason Ford, for helping make the trip a success and for shuttling me all over the place. Staying with Jason and being in Tempe for the race was a real kick-start for my flagging athletic motivation. Basically, I had been largely dormant (emphasis on "largely") since I crossed the finish line at the 2nd edition of Ironman Arizona on April 9, 2006. In particular, Jason took me out 3 days in a row for some slammin' runs, including 2 trail runs up to one of the mesas above Fountain Hills, where he lives. Just making it to the top proved that: (1) yes, that I was completely and woefully out of shape, but also (2) I could still get out there and do it. Since I've been home, things have come around and there has been a real improvement in the frequency and enjoyment of my workouts. That, in turn, has helped me get into a better place mentally for keeping up with my responsibilities at home and at work. (Thanks, Jason.)

We had a great outreach in Arizona, and if you want to read more about it, you can check out the ministry report online.

Finish strong,

Stan

FINA vs. Thorpe (and what it means for Michael Phelps)

2007-03-31T15:47:00.001-07:00

Wow. I didn’t see that coming.

Right alongside the latest reports of another incredible evening of swimming at the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia (Michael Phelps edged world record holder Ian Crocker by .05 in the 100-meter butterfly final to win his 5th gold medal of the event), came the news last night that FINA (the world governing body for swimming) is pursuing sanctions against former world and Olympic champion Ian Thorpe (aka “The Thorpedo”). Supposedly, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency had received an “adverse analytical finding” as the result of an out-of-competition drug test administered against Thorpe last May. Subsequently – in an apparently unrelated development -- Thorpe retired from the sport last November. What is unusual here is that if a test was not clearly positive (as evidenced by positive results from both “A” and “B” samples), then no other administrative entity or agency should have ever been aware of this. So, a lot of Australians are up in arms about a “leak” of this news. They feel that Thorpe’s reputation has now been unfairly maligned, and that his privacy invaded without cause.

One thing is for sure, however. Michael Phelps had better sit down with his PR folks, because his next gold medal press conference is going to be a shooting gallery of questions from the media about Thorpe, doping in swimming, and his own status as a “clean” swimmer. I think he is clean, and he is a pretty polished 21-year old when it comes to interacting with the media. But he is going to have to earn a gold medal in media relations in order to survive what is sure to be an onslaught of inquiry on the doping subject.

It is ironic, because I just got an email earlier this week from an old swimming friend about whether Phelps was clean. There had been an article in The Washington Post earlier this week about Phelps’ new strength training regime, and the discussion we had was around whether or not the Post piece was intimating a darker reason for his breakthrough swimming in Melbourne. I responded that I didn’t’ think the article was suggesting anything illegal or unethical on Phelps’ part, and I also said I didn’t think Phelps was a doper. But it is true that swimming has had its problems with doping.

A lot of folks will recall the machine that was the East German women’s swimming team from the late 1970’s through early 1980’s. What many were suspicious of at the time – that the East German women were rampant steroid users – actually was proven true later. There had been a Government-sponsored program of doping from the age group level all the way up to the national team level. In fact, the doping was so pervasive – most of it unknown to the athletes themselves, who had a blind allegiance to their state-appointed, Communist party coaches – that many of these women subsequently developed horrible health problems like cancer and birth defects in their children. The reunified German government eventually paid reparations to some of these women as the result of the chemical atrocities committed against these girls by the East German government. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the Chinese apparently imitated the East German formula, and a number of their national team swimmers tested positive for steroids at regional and international competitions. In 1996, Irish swimmer Michelle Smith came from out of nowhere to win 3 gold medals and a bronze in the swimming events at the Atlanta Olympics. However, 2 years later she was suspended for tampering with a urine sample from an out-of-competition drug test, and she lost a lot of her popularity. It never helped her situation that her husband and “coach” was a Dutch shot-putter with no swimming background who had served a 2-year doping suspension as the result of testing positive for steroids in competition. Even Americans like Jess’ca Foschi have been forced to serve drug-related suspensions.

There can be no question anymore that virtually any stellar sports performance is going to be suspected by some as being the result of doping. However, in the case of Michael Phelps, I think it is unlikely for a couple of reasons. First, the guy has been a prodigious talent since Day 1; he made the Olympic team at age 15 and set his first world record at age 15, nine months. So, it is less likely that he has need of performance-enhancing than some others. Plus, he is from the United States, and the sorts of drugs which would most enhance a swimmer’s performance (likely to be steroids, testosterone, and/or HGH [human growth hormone] and, possibly, EPO [erythropoietin]) are currently the subject of some pretty rigorous investigation at the Federal level; the FBI has a task force that is trying to track down bogus home labs, “aging labs,” and illegal shipments from pharmacies in Mexico. So, unlike some other jurisdictions, he is more likely to be found out, I think, than if he lived in, say, Russia.

On top of all that, I have my own doubts about the ability of the average swimmer/coach partnership in the U.S. to secure the extra time, financial resources, connections, and ability to focus on a program of doping. I’ve been around competitive swimming in one form or another for over 35 years, and this just doesn’t fit with what I've seen and experienced. In order to work, a doping program almost has to be systemic; you need to acquire the drugs, you need medical advice on how/when to use them, you need a coach or trainer who will advise you on when to use them to maximum benefit and when to not use them so as to avoid detection in or out of competition, and you need to keep the secret form other people who might have an incentive to reveal your secret (like competitors). On the other hand, the more haphazard (or solitary) a program of doping is, it seems even more unlikely that it could succeed, especially if you account for out-of-competition testing, which just about all prominent athletes like Phelps are subject to these days.

I doubt either of these scenarios applies in the case of Phelps. And when it comes to keeping secrets, keep in mind that Phelps is not training in isolation. Although he turned pro and therefore cannot swim competitively in an NCAA program, he is a student at the University of Michigan where he lives and trains with Bob Bowman (his old coach from North Baltimore Aquatic Club, and head coach of the Michigan men’s swim team). I doubt very seriously there is a systematic program of doping at Michigan (all NCAA swimmers are likewise subject to testing for performance enhancing drugs), or that Phelps could keep any solitary, personal program of doping a secret from the men he lives and trains with.

An athlete like Phelps who knows he is one of the best in the world seems to me to be less likely (at least psychologically) to feel the need to dope than, say, someone struggling to reach that level. A champion, in this view, doesn’t feel the needs to use performance enhancing drugs. In fact, to use them might be, for such an athlete, an admission that he is not as good as he thinks he is. While some might say the endorsements ratchet up the temptation level, the converse is as likely to be true, if not more so. Why take performance enhancing drugs and risk a set of multi-million dollar guaranteed promotional contracts?

But, yeah, he is going to get asked the question. A lot.

Finish strong.

Best Day of Swimming Ever?

2007-03-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

I had to get up at the crack of dawn this morning to get some work done for our 1st quarter/2007 closing at work. I’m talking really early, like 5:00 a.m. ET. However, when I got my work done, I was able to get on the Internet and check out near-live postings of the results from the evening session of Day 3 of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia. What I read just blew me away. Event after event, there were amazing swims, including no less than 4 individual gold medal performances by U.S. swimmers out of 5 finals (in the 5th race, the U.S. picked up a silver medal). There was also an additional world record set in the semifinal heats of the women’s 200-meter freestyle. Out of a total of 8 events in the evening session, there were 4 world records set. In 3 of the 5 finals (vs. semifinals), a world record was set. In the other 2 races, an American just missed breaking the oldest women's world record on the books, and another American woman set a new U.S. record. I’m not a statistician, but I can’t remember such a concentration of amazing performances in one 2-hour session of swimming. Here is how it went down.

Of course, you won’t be surprised that Michael Phelps got the ball rolling. Phelps is a huge talent and won 8 medals at each of the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal. So, you would expect him to dominate, especially in his “main” events, which include three events in which he entered this meet holding the world record: 200-meter butterfly; 200-meter individual medley; and, 400-meter individual medley. To be sure, he has posted some huge results in the men’s 200-meter freestyle and is the American record holder in that event. (Sarah and I saw him set a U.S. record in that event in 2003 at the Philips 66 U.S. Swimming Nationals in College Park.) But he had “only” managed a bronze in that race at the 2004 Olympics, and had faced stiff competition from former world record holder Ian Thorpe and the Netherlands’ Pieter van den Hoogenband. So, it may not have been a big upset, but it was not entirely expected either what happened today: Phelps, seeded second after semifinals to the Dutch star, became the first man to go under 1:44, snatching the gold medal and posting a new world record time of 1:43.86. He beat Thorpe’s former world record by .20.

Australia is the one place in the world where swimming is truly appreciated on a major league level. Just as an example, Ian Thorpe has for several years now (even in retirement) been one of the top sports personalities in the country. So, with these championships being staged in Melbourne before a crowd of almost 20,000 rabid swimming fans, Phelps’ swim probably caused this crowd to get really primed for some amazing swimming. When there is that much energy in a building, it is a sure bet the swimmers are going to feed off of it. No doubt, Phelps’ swim probably set the stage for what followed:

Thirteen minutes later, in the very next event, American Natalie Coughlin lowered her own world record in the 100-meter backstroke, taking the gold medal. She went 59.44, shaving .14 off her old mark of 59.58. Coughlin held off a strong challenge from France’s Laure Manaudou who had already won the gold medal in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.

26 minutes later, after 50-meter breastroke heats, American Kate Ziegler (from Arlington and Bishop O’Connell High School/George Mason University) won the gold in the grueling 1500-meter freestyle in 15:53.05, and coming within 1 second of Janet Evans’ 19-year old world record of 15:52.10.

Another 30 minutes later, Americans Aaron Piersol and Ryan Lochte went 1-2 in the men’s 100-meter backstroke, with Piersol becoming the first man in history under 53 seconds, breaking in 52:98, breaking his own world record of 53:17.

Eight minutes later, Federica Pelligrini of Italy broke a the world record in the women’s 200-meter freestyle semifinals, swimming 1:55.47, to take out the old mark of 1:55.64 set by Franziska van Almsick of Germany in 2002. American Katie Hoff and Dana Vollmer both made the finals of the 200-meter freestyle, which is shaping up to be one of the fastest women’s 200-meter events in history. Hoff's time of 1:57.29 broke the American record held by Olympic gold medalist Lindsay Benko.

There are still 5 full days of swimming left. It could be an historic week for swimming in Australia. Check out the results at the official FINA website (http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Melbourne_2007/results/swimming.php) and online at US Swimming’s web site (http://www.usswim.org/). You can also read the headlines (and pay a nominal fee to watch online video, if you like) at the WCSN web site: http://www.wcsn.com/sport/index.jsp?id=34001.

Finish strong,
Stan